Rebel Music

A look at reggae in the 1970s, when, ten years after independence from Britain and the harsh economic conditions were taking their toll, the disillusioned and dissatisfied Jamaican youth channelled their anger into roots music. The era gave rise to Bob Marley, the country’s first superstar, Lee “Scratch” Perry, reggae’s most notable producer, and King Tubby, who popularised ‘dub’, the remixing of existing records. In Britain, black youth latched on to the roots sound to create their own version, Brit reggae, with bands such as Steel Pulse and Aswad emerging.